FLOODS IN THE SOUTH

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 27, 31 January 1919, Page 3

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

PROMISED,

(IT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

DUNEDIN, 30th January.

The position has improved at Balclutha. The Molyneux has fallen 2ft. Bin. The bank is holding well, and danger is now considered to be past. Barnego is completely inundated. Some sheep have been lost, and grass paddocks have been spoilt by silt. At Stirling the water is subsiding very slowly, and the outlook has not much improved. The stock losses are small. The Kaitangata flats from Lovell's Flat to the sea are under water, and extensive damage has been done. Seventy homes are flooded, and provisions have been supplied by boat to several settlers. The flood-water is 18in below the 1878 mark. Stocks of butter and flour are almost exhausted. The coal-miners are idle, and the mail service has to be maintained by boat from Lovell's Flat. Several families are marooned, and rescue work is proceeding by boat. No loss of life is reported. The water is rising slowly. The Minister for Lands visited the Stirling district to-day, and got some idea of the loss sustained by residents. He recognised that the damage is serious both at Stirling and Kaitangata. Several houses are down at Stirling, and the water is up to the eaves of others. The Minister promised assistance to the most pressing cases, and arranged for an engineer to visit the flooded area to ascertain what is necessary to restore the district to normal. The flood prevented the Minister visiting Kaitangata, where the position is more serious.

INVERCARGILL, 30th January. Reports at 5 o'clock show that the Southland rivers are little above normal, light rain is falling, but settlers anticipate no danger from floods. •

TIMARU, 30th January. The rain which set in on Sunday continues with little intermission to-day. A full holiday in town for tho Friendly Societies' picnic in the park was inevitably a failure. Harvesting work was in full swing before the rain stopped it for some time by softening the ground. The crops are standing better than was expected, but some are down. The weather is cold as_ well as wet, and is hard on ncwly-shfl&n. sheep.